Pick up a car rental from Juneau International Airport and head out into the frozen Alaska wilderness for an adventure of a lifetime. There's so much to see and do in the local area, from hiking around the impressive Mendenhall Glacier to dolphin and whale watching in the pristine local waters. Indeed, there's something for all the family in Juneau, with the city offering some of Alaska's best attractions.
Located just south of downtown, the Mount Roberts Tramway is an aerial cable car offering some of the most stunning views in Juneau. Visitors will enjoy the six-minute ascent to the more than 3,800-ft peak of Mount Roberts and from there are able to look out over the whole of the city. There's even a bar to be found at the top of the ride offering chilled refreshments.
Juneau is famous for offering some of the best dolphin and whale watching tours in the country, so if you're planning a getaway to this isolated destination then this should definitely be a top priority. Humpbacks and killer whales are regularly seen along the picturesque coastline, while pods of dolphins commonly frequent the local waters too. April to November offer the best chances of success.
Offering a collection of some of the most significant artifacts and cultural materials from people living on the Northwest Coast, the Alaska State Museum is a treasure trove of local history for visitors to explore. It's open daily during the summer and from Tuesdays to Sundays throughout the rest of the year, with free admission on the first Friday of every month.
Spread over an impressive 16.7 million acres, the Tongass National Forest is a short, 20-minute drive north-west from Juneau. Described as the "crown jewel" by the US Forests Service, this is one of the last remaining intact temperate rainforests in the world. A protected habitat for many species, it was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 and today is frequented by almost one million visitors each year.
If you rent a car in Juneau and head north along the Glacier Highway, you'll reach the National Shrine of St Thérèse. Overlooking the Lynn Canal, this stone retreat is situated in 46 acres of pristine Alaskan countryside and features a stone chapel, crypt, labyrinth, columbarium, lodge and cabin. It dates back to the early 1930s and was founded by Jesuit priest Father William LeVasseur in commemoration of St Thérèse of Lisieux, the patroness of Alaska.
Any trip to Juneau would not be complete without a visit to one of the most amazing destinations in the local area - the Mendenhall Glacier. Make the most of your Juneau car rental by heading 11 miles north out of the city to the Mendenhall Glacier and Visitor Center. The 13-mile long Mendenhall Glacier is the Juneau icefield's largest inhabitant and guests can find out all about this behemoth at the center, complete with exhibitions, telescopes and ranger talks and an array of activities.
A larger 4x4 or SUV with good low-range gearing is recommended to tackle the icy, treacherous conditions that come with the Alaskan climate.
Juneau International Airport
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June, with 18 hours per day of sunlight on average.
September and October, each with 218.9 mm of rainfall on average.
Backcountry Film Festival, Alaska Folk Festival, Juneau Jazz & Classics Festival